How much does the 2026 Nissan Navara cost in Australia?
The 2026 Nissan Navara starts from $43,290 driveaway for the SL grade, rising to $62,490 for the range-topping PRO-4X. All models are Dual Cab 4×4 with automatic transmission only, reflecting the 90 per cent of buyers who chose this configuration in the outgoing D23.
Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we? The 2026 Nissan Navara shares its platform, its engine, and a good chunk of its body panels with the Mitsubishi Triton. This is what happens when your parent company posts a $6.2 billion annual loss, your CEO publicly admits “we lost our way,” and you’re busy selling off your global headquarters in Yokohama just to keep the lights on.
But here’s the thing: Nissan has at least tried to make the best of a desperate situation.
Is the 2026 Nissan Navara just a rebadged Mitsubishi Triton?
No, but it’s close. The Navara shares its platform and 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel with the Triton, but Nissan partnered with Melbourne-based Premcar to develop three distinct suspension tunes specifically for Australian conditions. The front end styling is also unique, featuring Nissan’s V-motion grille and C-shaped LED headlights.
The fifth-generation Navara arrives with Nissan in survival mode. New CEO Ivan Espinosa inherited a company haemorrhaging cash, a failed Honda merger, and a product lineup that had been neglected while executives engaged in what he diplomatically called “a lot of politics… a lot of tension and a lot of posturing.”
The solution? Share development costs with alliance partner Mitsubishi, then throw 18,500 kilometres of Australian testing at it and hope Premcar can work their magic. It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of corporate health, but it’s pragmatic.
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ABOVE: All New 2026 Nissan Navara Range – Triton with a V-Motion Grille?
What engine does the 2026 Navara have?
All Navara models are powered by a 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel producing 150kW and 470Nm, mated exclusively to a six-speed automatic. That’s 10kW more power and 20Nm more torque than the outgoing D23, while claiming 0.2L/100km better fuel efficiency.
The mechanical bones are familiar: Mitsubishi’s 2.4-litre bi-turbo diesel replaces Nissan’s own 2.3-litre unit, and the controversial rear coil-spring setup has been ditched for traditional leaf springs. The latter is actually a sensible decision for a working vehicle, even if it feels like a step backwards on paper.
Where Nissan has genuinely differentiated is in the suspension tuning. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Premcar developed three distinct calibrations:
SL and ST get heavy-duty four-leaf rear springs and were developed with a loaded tray as the baseline, the theory being that tradies rarely drive unladen.
ST-X rides on 18-inch wheels with three-leaf rear springs, tuned for the weekday commuter who occasionally tows a boat.
PRO-4X combines three-leaf springs with 17-inch wheels and all-terrain tyres, prioritising off-road articulation without completely sacrificing on-road manners.
The introduction of internal rebound springs in the front dampers is genuinely interesting engineering, allowing softer compression damping without sacrificing roll control. It’s the sort of detail that suggests someone at Premcar actually cares about how these things drive.
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2026 Nissan Navara Price List
|
Grade |
Driveaway Price |
|---|---|
|
SL Dual Cab 4×4 |
$43,290 |
|
ST Dual Cab 4×4 |
$48,990 |
|
ST-X Dual Cab 4×4 |
$55,990 |
|
PRO-4X Dual Cab 4×4 |
$62,490 |
Navara vs Triton: What’s Different?
|
Feature |
2026 Nissan Navara |
2024 Mitsubishi Triton |
|---|---|---|
|
Engine |
2.4L bi-turbo diesel |
2.4L bi-turbo diesel |
|
Power |
150kW / 470Nm |
150kW / 470Nm |
|
Suspension |
Premcar Australian tune |
Standard Mitsubishi tune |
|
Front styling |
Nissan V-motion grille |
Mitsubishi Dynamic Shield |
|
4WD (top grades) |
Super 4WD with Torsen LSD |
Super Select 4WD-II |
|
Payload (SL/ST) |
1,047kg |
1,010kg |
|
Towing |
3,500kg |
3,500kg |
|
Key advantage |
Local suspension tuning |
Established reputation |
What’s the 2026 Navara like inside?
The interior is a massive improvement over the decade-old D23. A 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto sits front and centre, paired with a 7-inch digital driver display. Build quality and materials are lifted directly from the Triton, which is to say adequate rather than premium.
All grades receive a five-star ANCAP safety rating, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a 360-degree camera system on higher grades.
The Uncomfortable Context
It would be remiss not to mention the circumstances under which this vehicle arrives. Nissan is in genuine trouble. The company has announced 20,000 job cuts globally, seven factory closures, and a 20 per cent reduction in production capacity. The Honda merger that might have provided a lifeline collapsed earlier this year.
CEO Espinosa’s recent admission that the company “forgot who we were” and “became a financial target company” is the sort of brutal honesty that either signals a genuine turnaround or the final act before the curtain falls.
For Australian buyers, this raises legitimate questions about long-term parts availability and resale values. Nissan Australia insists it’s business as usual, and the five-year unlimited kilometre warranty provides some reassurance. But if you’re planning to keep this vehicle for a decade, the corporate backdrop is worth considering.
Should you buy the Navara or the Triton?
If the Premcar suspension tuning delivers on its promises, the Navara could genuinely be the better driving vehicle of the two, despite sharing most of its DNA with the Triton. The pricing is competitive, the spec is comprehensive, and there’s something to be said for the unique front-end styling over the Triton’s polarising Dynamic Shield face.
But the corporate uncertainty hovering over Nissan globally cannot be ignored. The Triton comes from a company that isn’t currently selling its headquarters to make payroll.
For buyers who prioritise driving dynamics and want to support a vehicle specifically tuned for Australian conditions, the Navara makes a compelling case. For those who want the security of a manufacturer on solid financial footing, the Triton, Hilux, or Ranger remain safer bets.
The 2026 Nissan Navara is now on sale at Nissan dealers nationally.
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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